Improving rural communities’ access to high-quality care close to home

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — The White House hosted a roundtable discussion with elected officials, administration officials and frontline providers on Jan. 16 as President Donald Trump highlighted a new health care policy aimed at supporting rural health care. Among those voices was Andrew McCue, MD, a cardiologist at AdventHealth Gordon, who shared insight into the needs of rural hospitals and opportunities to improve access to care.

Dr. McCue’s participation reflects AdventHealth’s commitment to expanding care in rural areas and supporting approaches that help people feel whole through care that is accessible, coordinated and close to home. With more than 2,000 care sites nationwide, AdventHealth provides health care in rural communities in Florida, Georgia, Kansas, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

The discussion centered on the Rural Health Transformation Program, a nationwide initiative that commits $50 billion over five years to support rural health care systems in all 50 states. The administration says the program will strengthen access, encourage innovation and support long-term sustainability for rural providers.

For patients in rural areas, access to high-quality health care often depends on proximity to services and providers. The Rural Health Transformation Program allows states flexibility to invest in solutions that improve efficiency, modernize care delivery and help patients receive care closer to where they live.

During the discussion, Dr. McCue spoke about how these investments could make a meaningful difference for patients in communities like rural Northwest Georgia.

“Being a physician in rural Georgia, our communities have many needs,” Dr. McCue said. “Our goals are to expand access to care, improve efficiency and improve patients’ proximity to their doctors so that they can get high quality care close to home.”

The program also supports collaboration among rural providers and regional health systems, helping coordinate services, strengthen workforce recruitment and retention and adopt innovative care models tailored to local needs. Funding can be used to modernize facilities and technology, making it easier for patients to access care without leaving their communities.

For rural patients, the focus remains on access to care that is reliable, efficient and centered on the whole person. As the program moves into implementation, these investments are expected to support a stronger and more sustainable future for rural health care.